Over the past few months, I have met more activists for truth and liberty than ever before. I have met libertarians campaigning for Ron Paul, 9/11 truth activists, people young and old seeking the truth, seeking to share it with others, and seeking change. Many of these people have asked me, at what point do we resort to violent revolution. Many feel that it is already justified, and I have trouble disagreeing with them. We do need a revolution, and it may need to be violent, but we have not yet exhausted the efforts that must precede violent revolution.

I have analyzed some of the history of revolution. I have examined the possible scenarios we face and sought a solution. This paper will discuss the status of our revolution, what we must do before we resort to violent revolution, and why. I will provide a plan called the "Summer of Action," which calls for weekly street actions and shows you how easily you can start doing them. By engaging in the Summer of Action, we may create the change we seek. If not, then I expect that we will at least enable ourselves to move to the next step in our revolution.

Through the internet, documentary films, radio, and word of mouth, many Americans are awake and aware of the current threats to liberty. Based on the ratings of pro-liberty web sites, radio, and television programs, as well as the way Americans vote, I can make an estimate of what the number of awake and involved Americans. Alex Jones' radio show is said to get as much as three million listeners. Over one million people voted for Ron Paul in Republican primaries this year. A few million people have watched documentaries like America: Freedom to Fascism, End Game, Loose Change, and TerrorStorm. Polls show that fifteen percent of Americans are libertarian, while only two percent vote libertarian.

The demographic we face is one where 95 percent of people are trapped in a left-right, two party political paradigm. At least fifteen percent of Americans are awake and aware about government corruption, 9/11, and the economic situation, while about five percent understand the central banking conspiracy that lies behind all these issues. About five percent of Americans are prepared to make a stand right now, however, a very tiny percentage are active. The only hope for this country is that this five percent gets active right now.

Five percent of American is over one million people! If those people take the step from understanding to physical action, it will enable us to change this country. In fact, if only a handful of people in every city start acting, we can increase those numbers of people who are informed, while also increasing the numbers of informed people who are active. When informed individuals see others taking action, they are more likely to do so too. When those who are not informed see people take action, they will pay more attention to the issues.

I hear many people in this movement for truth and liberty discuss the need for revolution. Revolution is possible with only five percent of the population active (just ask George Washington about that). However, that five percent can only succeed if a majority of the rest of the public is sympathetic to their cause. Violent revolution is a last resort. If it is attempted prematurely, it will be easily interpreted as insurrection. The revolutionaries will be projected by the establishment and their controlled media as a fringe group that is a threat to public safety and security. Revolution must follow a process that begins with non-violent action.

Once we are aware of the need for change, we must first take non-violent action on a large scale. This gets our message out to the public. It shows our commitment and credibility, building sympathy for our cause amongst the general public and those working within the government. Once that is established, rights can be fully declared. Government authorities then have the choice between either respecting our rights or forcefully opposing them. Public sympathy is a strategic advantage for the revolutionaries at this time. It can dissuade authorities from using force.

When the revolution has reached the point where an authority must decide between respecting rights or using force, there is a good chance it will use force. It is a poor decision on their part. The revolutionaries now have permission to take their cause to the level of violent action. They are a non-violent group that was assaulted by a violent oppressor. The general public will be sympathetic to their cause and offer support. Sympathetic members of the government will support them from the inside. Members of neighboring countries and their governments may also offer support.

Let's look at the American Revolution as a successful example. The people demonstrated their opposition to taxation without representation. They authored a "Declaration of Independence." They took physical action just to the edge of non-violence (some may argue the Boston Tea Party was violent because it destroyed property). The British government then became the violent aggressor. Troops shot protesters in the Boston Massacre. Finally, at Lexington and Concord, armed troops were on a mission to disarm the public. A group of citizens stood in their way. Shots were fired, and a revolutionary war began. The British were seen as the aggressor. While a small percentage of the colonists were actively engaging in the revolution, they had the sympathy of a great majority by being first non-violent but very assertive, then defensive.

Here is the method that we will use, the method of successful revolution:

First, the group of people who is being oppressed must be aware of their rights and how those rights are being oppressed (some people will never even come to accept this fact). Those who accept must then take the step of action. They must address their grievances to their representatives in government. They must vote accordingly.

This is already an area we are failing to accomplish. If you vote for a candidate for office who is not committed one hundred percent to your liberties, you are willingly granting permission for others to take away your liberties.

I tried to address this issue earlier this year by starting the "People's Candidate Initiative." The mission of the initiative is to find candidates who stand for our rights, to only vote for those candidates, and to actively support their campaigns. Here are the qualifications I determined are representative of a people's candidate:

1. The people's candidate is not supported by corporate or foreign lobbying and financing.2. The people's candidate does not participate in elitist think tanks, secret organizations, or secret meetings (i.e. Bilderberg, CFR, Skull & Bones, Trilateral Commission).3. The people's candidate's policies are in line with the U.S. Constitution.4. The people's candidate supports a non-interventionist foreign policy discouraging military aggression.5. The people's candidate supports policies for other issues, such as economics, education, and regulations, which keep choices, services, and property in the hands of individual citizens and local communities.

Edwin Vieira, Jr., a lawyer specializing in constitutional law writes,

That “the government is denying us our rights” and even that “the government is oppressing us” are complaints all too commonly heard among patriots today. Yet, although instances of public officials’ misbehavior are both numerous and serious, this characterization of the situation obscures the true cause of and proper remedy for the problem.

Surprising as it may seem to some, as a matter of law it is impossible for “the government” to deny Americans their rights, let alone to oppress them.

The United States and each of the Union’s constituent States is a constitutional republic. The fundamental principle of constitutionalism is that some powers are granted to the government and others withheld. At any moment, “the government” — whether national, state, or local — consists of the set of behaviors by the people in public offices that comport with the powers and absences of power (“disabilities” as lawyers say) set out in the supreme law. Where the supreme law guarantees individuals certain rights, the government lacks any power to infringe, abridge, or deny those rights.

There is only one catch to this system: the people must exercise their authority to govern themselves. They first may do so by voting these officials out of office. How many incumbents were reelected in 2006 after voting in favor of the Iraq War, the Patriot Act, the Military Commissions Act, etc.? If the answer is "any," we are not doing our job. The answer is "very many." We must refuse to vote for any candidate who does not meet all six qualifications of a "people's candidate." It does more good to not vote at all than it does to vote for one of the "evils."

There is only a handful of people in the U.S. Congress who meet the qualifications of a people's candidate. These are Ron Paul, Dennis Kucinich, Scott Garrett, and possibly a few others. We must refuse to vote for any others. No more "lesser of evils." The lesser of evils is still evil. If you vote for any of candidate who does not meet the six qualifications, you are neglecting to exercise your right to representative government. You are also inhibiting the ability of responsible voters to protect their rights.

Many who read this would now argue that voting will not effectively restore our liberties. It is correct that a majority of Americans will not be convinced to vote in this manner, and we will continue to face our problems. It is also true that the election system is rigged against us in every way possible. We do not have an open election system that ensures that every vote is counted. However, voting (or perhaps not voting) is only one of many steps to restoring our liberty. Most of the steps will not be initially successful in restoring liberty, but are necessary parts of the process of revolution.

If you are committed to defending your liberty, the most important step you must take in this process is physical street action. Part of my reason for writing this is to stress that you do not need a group to accomplish physical activism. It is quite easy to do on your own or in a small group, and I will provide you with the ideas and resources you need to do it.

The mission of the Summer of Action is for every activist to do at least one physical action every week from reading this paper until the November general election. If you must miss a week, you will have to do two in the week before. Make no exceptions; our situation is too dire to make any exceptions. This may seem like a difficult and unreasonable expectation. You have a busy life with many other commitments. Again, our situation is too extreme. We are faced with no other choice. I understand your situation, so I will now provide you with ideas and resources that I have created or gathered from other activists. This resource will make it possible for you to start taking action today. If we carry out the "Summer of Action" as I have written it here, "We The People" may be empowered by this November to exercise our rights to their fullest extent. If the Summer of Action has not done enough to completely restore our rights (possible but not likely), it will allow us to move on to the next step of our revolution.

The following is a list of ideas for distributing information via street actions. Some of the ideas may be considered unethical, or prohibited by some people or institutions. That is for you to decide. I have simply selected actions on the basis that they are not violent or destructive to others' property.

Print flyers. Hand them out to people in a public place. You can just go downtown for an hour or two almost any time during the weekend, and there will be people walking about who you can talk to. Sometimes it is even better for the streets not to be crowded. Be sure to make eye contact and express your views in a concerned manner that shows compassion. Some flyers are available for download at the WeAreChange Central Indiana web site.

Distribute flyers in other means. Slip them into newspapers and magazines at a newspaper stand or bookstore. Slide them under doors to offices, apartments, or hotel rooms. Post them on bulletin boards and in places set aside specifically for brochures.

Utilize your public libraries. Libraries often have space available for the public to post flyers and brochures. They also have facilities that you could use to arrange a group meeting or a presentation. When targeting libraries, provide books that people could check out to get more information. Some examples might by Ron Paul's The Revolution: A Manifesto, John Perkins' Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, or many works by David Ray Griffin regarding the attacks of September 11th and the need for investigation. These should be available at most libraries and bookstores. Just like bookstores and newsstands, you can slip flyers into materials such as related books, music, and movies. You can also encourage your libraries to carry books and movies that inform people about issues important to you. Schedule some actions that target the libraries in all of these ways.

Create banners. You can make these yourself with some bed sheets, spray paint, and stencils, or you can have them professionally printed at any print shop (i.e. Kinko's, Staples, etc.) for $100-$300. You can hold banners in marches or demonstrations with a group. You can also hang them over bridges in high-traffic areas. Stick to short slogans that are easy to read and simply grab attention to the fact that there are people taking action. "Ron Paul r3VOLution" and "9/11 was an inside job" are popular choices. Web site addresses such as "Infowars.Com," "TruthAwaits.Com," or "IndyTruth.Org" are also good choices. Be creative too!

Create posters. You can print these yourself, make them with markers or paint on posterboard, or have them done in a print shop. You can post a little more information on a poster than a banner. Place them on utility polls, walls in high traffic areas, and bulletin boards.

Get creative with signs and posters. You could make signs that you can stick into the ground. You could also print bumper stickers for cars and other places.

Canvassing door-to-door for political candidates is one of my favorite actions. Pick a "people's candidate" like Ron Paul or someone running in your local area. Get details about their issue stances. Ask each person you talk to what issue is most of important to them in the election for the particular office. Share the candidate's record or platform on that issue alone. Hand them literature. Be polite, and head on to the next house. It is a short contact. If you find people who are interested in a candidate, help them get involved in the campaign as donors or volunteers. Leave behind literature at houses where no one answers the door. This is a great way to meet people, introduce them to new ideas about political issues, and get people focused on learning more about candidates before they vote.

Those are all actions you can do by yourself or with a small group of people. Check out this video of some members of WeAreChange Central Indiana doing a street action in downtown Indianapolis.

These are three guys out on a Sunday afternoon. It is only three people, and one of them is obviously holding the camera! You don't need a big group to get active and make an impact. Notice some of the methods they use to distribute flyers. Also notice how willing the pedestrians are to accept their literature and listen to their brief introduction. Their introduction went something like this:

Hi, would you like some free information? We are members of WeAreChange, an organization started by family and friends of the victims of the September 11th attacks. Did you know that 70 percent of the questions presented by families to the 9/11 Commission were never answered? There are some websites here where you can find more information and ways to get involved.

Some would take it in passing and maybe look at it. A few stopped to talk and asked questions. Listing web sites on the flyers provides them with the opportunity to learn more and take action themselves.

All I ask is that you take some of these ideas and do one of them every week. You can do it by yourself or with others. You can pick any issue you want. You might be alone the first couple times you do it, but showing others that you are taking action will lead others to join you. I will write more articles soon about starting an activist group. I will also share these ideas and discuss them with other activists on the IndyTruth Show every Saturday. The mission of the Summer of Action is possible and it will be powerful! I will be engaging in this effort the next few months, sharing my stories and those of other activists, and offering the tools that will empower you to be a powerful force in this revolution. Please join me in the next step to restoring our liberty!

There is a new political party in the state of Indiana. The Boston Tea Party was established in 2006 as an alternative to the Libertarian Party. Members of the BTP who reside in Indiana have organized a state affiliate, the Boston Tea Party of Indiana (BTPIN), which the National Committee approved late Friday night.

The platform of the Boston Tea Party is one sentence long, and cannot be changed according to the national bylaws. It is as follows:

"The Boston Tea Party supports reducing the size, scope and power of government at all levels and on all issues, and opposes increasing the size, scope and power of government at any level, for any purpose."

The BTPIN endorses and adopts that platform in its bylaws. It also shares the purpose of the Boston Tea Party,

"to empower lovers of freedom to reduce the size, scope and power of government through various means, including but not limited to: nominating and/or endorsing candidates for election and appointment to public office; affecting public policy through information, education & advocacy campaigns; and supporting the diverse and important work of the individuals and organizations comprising the libertarian movement."

The BTPIN will run the Boston Tea Party's candidates in presidential elections. It will run candidates for state and local offices in Indiana. And it will seek to gain ballot access for these candidates.

"The Founding Fathers were libertarians," says BTPIN founder Douglass Gaking. "We seek to restore the constitutional, libertarian government that they created for us. Their revolution began with the Boston Tea Party in 1773. In 2008, the Boston Tea Party of Indiana starts a new libertarian revolution here in the Hoosier state. We will be a force for smaller government in campaigns, debates, and public office in Indiana."

"When a representative in a constitutional republic considers a piece of legislation, they must ask themselves, 'Is this constitutional? Does this reduce the size and authority of government?'" Gaking says, "Our politicians are failing to ask these questions. We will ask these questions, and if the answer to them is 'no,' then our votes for those resolutions will be 'no.'"

Membership in the Boston Tea Party is open to anyone who endorses the party's platform. You can join by going to the party's web site www.bostontea.us and signing up at no cost. All business of the Boston Tea Party and its Indiana affiliate is conducted online.

At the 2008 online convention, June 15-16, the party nominated Charles Jay for President and Thomas Knapp for Vice President. Jay lived in Indiana before moving to Florida, and is also the nominee of the Personal Choice Party. Knapp is a Libertarian candidate for U.S. Congress in Missouri. They will be write-in candidates for President and Vice President in Indiana this November.

The Boston Tea Party is sort of an off-shoot of the Libertarian Party. Some say it is an alternative to an alternative political party. And some say that it is a waste of time and not constructive to libertarianism. I joined the BTP because I like the platform, and see it as a great opportunity to educate the public with the libertarian message.

The Boston Tea Party was founded in 2006 by Tom Knapp, following a Libertarian National Convention with reduced attendence and a disappointing change to the platform. In May 2008, the Libertarian Party nominated former Republican Congressman Bob Barr. The frustration that many Libertarians had with the party's selection of a more conservative candidate brought some attention to the Boston Tea Party. The party saw an increase in membership in the month between the Barr nomination and the BTP's National Convention.

I am one of those new members. I was drawn to join the party for several reasons. First, I liked the idea of a party requiring no dues to join, but instead a simple endorsement of the party's platform. Ultimately, it was that simple platform that drew me to join the Boston Tea Party:

The Boston Tea Party supports reducing the size, scope and power of government at all levels and on all issues, and opposes increasing the size, scope and power of government at any level, for any purpose.

The party's founder Tom Knapp says that the platform allows it to be a "big tent," welcoming a diverse group of members and candidates who simply seek a decrease in size of government, whether they be Green, liberal-leaning, conservative-leaning, anarchist, or anything in between. What makes this party handle such a diverse group is the fact that the platform is so simple and that the platform can never be changed. It is attached to the bylaws.

How does the patform work? A Boston Tea Party candidate would approach each issue with a small government solution. This is very in line with how our Founding Fathers intended for us to run the USA. In a government "by the people, for the people," laws should only be made to protect people's rights, not to eliminate choice. Most government programs, even those that provide services, restrict the rights of some individuals to have a choice (i.e. Social Security).

When the membership of the BTP logs on to the party's web site to vote in the national convention, they are expected to vote with the platform in mind. The voting process uses approval voting, so a member may vote for all of the candidates who he/she feels are acceptable. I voted for two of the party's VP candidates, and some members may have voted for all three. "None of the Above" is also a fairly popular option that members may select. If NOTA happens to win an election, than the party will not run a candidate.

Every two years at convention, the Boston Tea Party adopts a program of no more than five stances on issues. The current program adopted August 21, 2006 is as follows:

1. The Boston Tea Party calls for a complete and unconditional withdrawal of US troops from, and a cessation of US military operations against or within, Iraq.

2. The Boston Tea Party supports repeal of the USA PATRIOT Act.

3. The Boston Tea Party calls for an end to the federal prohibition of marijuana and hemp.

4. The Boston Tea Party calls for the immediate repeal of the REAL ID Act and any and all National ID plans.

5. The Boston Tea Party calls for legislation adopting an annual, regularized increase in the personal exemption to the federal income tax of $1,000 or more, and the additional application of said personal exemption to all FICA/Social Security taxes paid by employees and employers.

The program allows the party membership to select which issues are the biggest priority and how they should be handled. If the government ever reaches a point where it is sufficient on most of the membership's priorities, there could be fewer than five points on the program. Just as if there is a sufficient candidate for another party that is sufficient to the membership, they may vote to not run a presidential campaign in that election.

The Boston Tea Party is a complete representation of libertarianism that will always represent it's membership. With no fees, no travel, and no extensive commitments necessary, and a one member, one vote convention, every member is represented in a truly democratic party.

I also feel the party's purpose to be a significant mission that I can support,

to empower lovers of freedom to reduce the size, scope and power of government through various means, including but not limited to: nominating and/or endorsing candidates for election and appointment to public office; affecting public policy through information, education & advocacy campaigns; and supporting the diverse and important work of the individuals and organizations comprising the libertarian movement.

It is for these reasons that I joined the Boston Tea Party just a few weeks ago. With the party being so young, growing, and accessible, I was able to take a leadership role right away. I utilized my skills and resources in Internet radio to host a debate for the presidential and vice-presidential candidates on RPI Radio. I also started an Indiana affiliate, the Boston Tea Party of Indiana, which is only one National Committee vote away from becoming official. I hope that our affiliate can make the message of libertarianism more accessible to the people of Indiana, be a force for promoting free and open elections in our state, and run successful campaigns for office so that me way inject libertarian ideas into debates and policy "at all levels and on all issues."

If you would like to join the Boston Tea Party, the only requirements are that you endorse the party's platform by signing up on the web site. If you are in Indiana, you may also join our state affiliate by joining its Yahoo Group. Visit the BTPIN's web site to stay tuned to the latest BTP news from Indiana.

The Boston Tea Party, an off-shoot of the Libertarian Party founded in 2006, has finished it's twenty-four hour long online convention to select its nominees for President and Vice President of the United States. Polling closed at 9:00 PM Eastern Time on Monday night with Charles Jay leading the presidential vote and Tom Knapp earning the vice presidential nomination.

Charles Jay has already started his general election campaign as the nominee of Utah's Personal Choice Party. He is a libertarian and expressed in the Saturday night debates his intention to stick to the BTP's short and simple platform,

The Boston Tea Party supports reducing the size, scope and power of government at all levels and on all issues, and opposes increasing the size, scope and power of government at any level, for any purpose.

During the debate, Jay's competitor Robert Milnes said that he planned to continue running as an independent if he did not receive the BTP's nomination. He also plans to attend the Green Party's national convention in Chicago to seek their support.

In a message to the party membership shortly before voting began, Jay made several pledges, including, "Remember, though my name may wind up associated with this campaign, this is YOUR party, not just mine." He also pledged that "when the dust clears, a vote for Charles Jay and the Boston Tea Party will be anything BUT a 'wasted vote.'"

Tom Knapp has won the BTP's VP nomination. He founded the party in 2006. He is also running for U.S. Congress in Missouri as a Libertarian. Knapp recently wrote on his campaign site that he supports Congressman Dennis Kucinich's 35 articles of impeachment which were introduced to the House of Representatives earlier this week.

Knapp offered three pledges to the party membership before the convention began:

I am not a wealthy man, but if at all possible I will travel to appear at campaign events in the states where we achieve ballot access, or to HELP us achieve ballot access, or to assist in the formation and promotion of new state affiliates.

I will not only accept, but actively seek, opportunities to positively represent (or book our presidential nominee to represent) the party's ticket on talk radio and in other media.

I will proactively promote the party's platform and program, and work with our presidential nominee to create a campaign approach that accords with the party's aims in both letter and spirit.

Knapp competed against Todd Andrew Barnett and Chris Bennett for the VP nomination. In his concession, Barnett said that Knapp "is the best representative and speaker for the Party ... without any doubt." He pledged to support the Jay/Knapp ticket. Chris Bennett also conceded, suggesting that he may be interested in being their campaign manager.

It will be interesting to see how this ticket affects the turnout for contraversial Libertarian Party nominees Bob Barr and Wayne Allyn Root. The Boston Tea Party has seen a significant increase in membership since that nomination, which led many purist libertarians to leave the LP or at least object to voting for the LP's ticket in the general election. These members have argued that the former Republican congressman Barr is not a true libertarian, but a libertarian-leaning conservative.

Barr authored the Defense of Marriage Act and voted for the Patriot Act while he was in Congress. He has changed his position on those issues, but is still criticized for not being libertarian enough on many parts of his platform. While Barr calls for a decrease in government spending, he does not have a clear plan for eliminating the federal income tax and the Federal Reserve, a disappointment to many libertarians and conservatives who see these as unconstitutional and supporting of corruption.

The Boston Tea Party's candidates were critical of the FairTax during the debates, and most suggested that it would be better to eliminate the federal income tax and replace it with nothing. I am personally excited about the Jay/Knapp ticket because I know that I will be able to vote for a President who is truly libertarian, constitutionalist, and has clear, strong plans for tackling the root of foreign policy and economic problems.

ABC News is reporting that Ron Paul will make a "big announcement" tonight from Houston, Texas. You can watch the announcement live from the RonPaul2008 channel on Justin.tv.

While much of the media is speculating that the announcement will be the ending of Dr. Paul's campaign for the presidency, I expect that it will focus on his new organization, Ron Paul's Campaign for Liberty. Paul writes in an announcement on the campaign's website,

With the primary season now over, the presidential campaign is at an end. But the larger campaign for freedom is just getting started. Therefore, I am happy to announce the official launch of the Ron Paul Campaign for Liberty.

The work of the Campaign for Liberty will take many forms. We will educate our fellow Americans in freedom, sound money, non-interventionism, and free markets. We’ll have our own commentaries and videos on the news of the day. I’ll work with friends I respect to design materials for homeschoolers.

Politically, we’ll expand the great work of our precinct leader program. We’ll make our presence felt at every level of government, where just a few people with our level of enthusiasm can make a world of difference. We’ll keep an eye on Congress and lobby against legislation that threatens us. We’ll identify and support political candidates who champion our great ideas against the empty suits the party establishments offer the public.

We will be a permanent presence on the American political landscape. That I promise you. We’re not about to let all this good work die. To the contrary, with your help we’re going to make it grow – by leaps and bounds.

This is the most ambitious venture of my political career, and I think it can achieve great things. But I can’t do this alone. I need you to help me. I need your energy, your creativity, your ideas, and your dedication.

People frustrated with our political system often wonder what they can do. I have founded this organization to answer that question, to give people the opportunity to do something that really makes a difference in the fight for freedom. Please join me by becoming a member of the Campaign for Liberty. Our goal is 100,000 members by September.

I joined fifteen minutes ago, and as I write, I am watching the member ticker rise by one hundred new members ever few minutes. I have no doubt that Dr. Paul's campaign will reach the goal of 100,000 members. This will be the most successful campaign for liberty in our lifetime.

Please go to the site, read the campaign's mission and strategy, and sign up today. Let's help Ron Paul reach over 10% of the campaign goal (10,000 members) by the time he makes his announcement tonight!

The IndyTruth Blog has reached nearly 10,000 readers. While I have been quite busy chairing the Boston Tea Party and haven't posted in awhile, it still appears to get about 20 reads per day. Thank you for reading and spreading the word. I will do my best to keep good stories and activism alerts coming. -Douglass Boston Tea Party